Strong Dog Panel Connection System

ABSTRACT

This is a Panel Connection System for structured panel buildings consisting of a strong dog panel connection system that connects structural insulated composite roof, wall and floor panels to each other and to other surfaces such as floors and walls. It uses dog panel as connectors between the panels. The system consists of two parts: A) the field installed Strong Dog type one strip for wall to wall and certain roof to wall connections, and the field installed Strong Dog  2  strip type  2  for wall and to floor and certain wall to roof.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (IF ANY)

None

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a providing support and connection means for structural insulated composite panel buildings using a Strong Dog Panel Connection System.

2. Background

There are current techniques for building structural insulated composite panel buildings that can be used as reusable emergency shelters, homes and structures that are affordable, energy efficient, hurricane and earthquake resistant. These structures will not mold or mildew, are completely waterproof and are immune to insects and rodents. They are also earth friendly, and can be recycled when reaching the end of their life cycle Until now, most structural panels use Oriented Strand Board (OSB) for their facings. But there are better materials and connecting systems that should be used.

There exists a need for structural insulated composite panel buildings. Especially in areas dealing with natural or manmade issues as they can be put up quickly and safely provide people with their sheltering needs. There needs to be more improved systems that make it easier, sounder and more efficient to connect the materials and construct the panel buildings.

There is still room for improvement in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention deals with current techniques for providing support for structural insulated composite panel buildings.

The current invention is the Strong Dog Panel Connection System which connects structural insulated composite roof, wall and floor panels to each other and to other surfaces such as floors and walls. It is a hidden continuous connection system consisting of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) holding devices called “Strong Dogs” that engage slots in a receiving piece installed in the edge or the face of the panel or other surface to be attached to. The system consists of two parts: A) the field installed Strong Dog type one strip for wall to wall and certain roof to wall connections, and the field installed Strong Dog 2 strip type 2 for wall to floor and certain wall to roof connections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the following drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the double dog and the reverse dog;

FIG. 2 shows the wall panel to wall panel connection;

FIG. 3 shows the wall panel receiving channel;

FIG. 4 shows the reverse dog strip to floor receiving panel connection;

FIG. 5 shows the wall panel to floor panel connection;

FIG. 6 shows the wall panel to floor panel in an isometric view; and

FIG. 7 displays the wall panel to roof panel connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

There are a number of significant design features and improvements incorporated within the invention.

The current invention is a Strong Dog Panel Connection System used to connect structural insulated composite roof, wall and floor panels to each other and to other surfaces such as floors and walls and is shown in detail in the attached FIGS. 1 through 7.

In the preferred embodiment it is used for providing connections for structural insulated composite panel buildings using Structural Insulated Composite Panel (SICP) due to the uniqueness of the materials used in the composition of the SICP and to the innovative manufacturing methodology used. In the preferred embodiment the approach taken is pre-install the Strong Dog device prior to the injection of the form resin or, in the case of the use of a rigid core, prior to the installation of the skins.

The core of a SICP is made from Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), or Extruded Polystyrene (XPS), or Urethane Foam. A SICP panel is made from two outside skins laminated to a foam core under high pressure. The insulating core and the two skins of a SICP are nonstructural by themselves, but when pressure-laminated together under strictly controlled conditions, these materials act synergistically to form a composite that is many times stronger than the parts individually. When engineered and assembled properly, a structure built with SICPs needs no frame or skeleton to support it.

SICPs outperform conventional wall, roof and floor building methods in virtually every category: more energy efficient and draft free, stronger and quieter than traditional stud framing with fiberglass batt insulation. These attributes are built right in to the SICPs building. Less air movement or leakage translates into fewer drafts, fewer penetrations for noise, lower energy bills and a significantly more comfortable and controllable indoor environment.

The current invention is the Strong Dog Panel Connection System which connects structural insulated composite roof, wall and floor panels to each other and to other surfaces such as floors and walls. It is a hidden continuous connection system consisting of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) holding devices called “Strong Dogs” as shown in FIG. 1 that engage slots 20 in a FRP receiving piece 30 installed in the edge or the face of the panel 40 or other surface to be attached to.

As shown in FIG. 1, double strong dog 5 are used in strong dogs type one strips 50 and reverse strong dogs 6 are used in strong dogs type two strips 55. The double strong dog 5 has double extensions 1 that extend the same way in parallel from the base 2. The reverse strong dog 6 has extensions 1 that extend in opposition directions from the base 2. The base 2 has two strip channels 3 in which are used to connect them to the strips. The use of these two types of strong dogs allow for great flexibility in the use of the strong dog strips. The strong dogs are wide enough to fit securely into the slots 20 of the slotted channels of the panels. In the preferred embodiment, the strong dogs are made of a strong fiber reinforced plastic.

The system consists of two parts: A) the field installed Strong Dog type one 50 strip for wall to wall and certain roof to wall connections as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the field installed Strong Dog strip type 2 55 for wall and to floor and certain wall to roof connections as shown in FIG. 6, and B) the factory installed slotted edge or face element 25 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

The current invention can be used as a connection of a vertical joint between wall panels 40. The vertical edges of the wall panels 40 both have built in slotted channels 30 extending from top to bottom of the panel 40. The Strong Dog strip 50, as long as the height of the wall panel 40, is inserted into the slots 30 of panel 40 nose down but not fully engaged vertically a shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The “Strong Dog type one strip 50 is held in position vertically from the top by hand or by a small drift pin. The second panel 40 is slid into position engaging the dogs of the Strong Dog strip 50 into the slots of the second panel 40 as shown in FIG. 3. The Strong Dog strip 50 is pushed from the top and pulled from near the bottom as the second panel is pushed into position.

With a connection between an exterior wall and floor panel the bottom edge of the wall panel 40 has a built in slotted edge channel extending the full width of the panel 40 as shown in FIG. 6. The corner top edge of the floor panel 45 has a built in slotted channel. The “Strong Dog type two” strip 55 is inserted into the slots 30 in the floor panel 55 and pulled into the fully engaged position. The wall panel 40 is set down over the “Strong Dog type two” strip 55 and pushed into a full engaged position.

With a connection between an exterior wall panel and roof panels 70 with no overhang the top edge of the wall panel 40 has a built in slotted edge channel extending the full width of the panel as shown in FIG. 7. The corner bottom edge of the roof panel 70 has a built in slotted channel. The Strong Dog type two strip 55 is inserted into the slots in the wall panel 40 and pulled into the fully engaged position. The roof panel 70 is set down over the “Strong Dog type two strip 55 and pushed into a full engaged position.

With a connection between an exterior wall panel and an edge roof panels with no overhang the top edge of the wall panel 40 has a built in slotted edge channel corresponding to a Strong Dog type one 10 strips extending the full width and full length of the panel 40. The bottom edges of the roof panel 70 have built in slotted channels corresponding to the slots 30 in the wall panels 40. The Strong Dog type one strip 10 is installed in the top of the wall panels 40. The panel is set over the Strong Dog type one strips 50 and the Strong Dog strips 50 are pulled into position.

The foundation assemblies are installed in the appropriate locations and adjusted to the correct elevation. The floor panels are placed on the foundation pads, in order, starting at one edge. The inserts are placed in the panel edges as the panels are installed. The wall panels 40 are installed and connected by the Strong dog connection system to the floor panel.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Other types of panels can be used besides the SICP panels with the current invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A process comprising; Using strong dogs to connect two panels.
 2. A process according to claim 1 further comprising; Having said strong dogs contained in a strip forming a strong dog strip.
 3. A process according to claim 1 further comprising; Having said panels have engage slots into which an extension of the strong dog strip is inserted.
 4. A process according to claim 1 further comprising; Having said strong dog have two extensions that extend in parallel out from the base.
 5. A process according to claim 1 further comprising; Having said strong dog have two extensions that extend in perpendicular out from the base.
 6. A process according to claim 3 further comprising; Having said strong dog width be enough to fit securely into the slots of the panels.
 7. A process according to claim 1 further comprising; Having said strong dog placed into the slots of the panels and have the panels pushed into place.
 8. A process according to claim 1 further comprising; Having said panels being Structural Insulated Composite Panels.
 9. A process according to claim 4 further comprising; Connecting two wall panels where the vertical edges of the wall panels have slotted channels extending from top to bottom of the panel, insert the Strong into the slots of one panel nose down but not fully engaged vertically, having the second panel slid into position engaging the extensions of the Strong Dogs into the slots of the second panel.
 10. A process according to claim 9 further comprising; Having the strong dogs in a strip.
 11. A process according to claim 9 further comprising; Having the first panel pushed from the top and pulled from the bottom as the second panel is pushed into position.
 12. A process according to claim 9 further comprising; Having said panels being Structural Insulated Composite Panels.
 13. A process according to claim 5 further comprising; Connecting an exterior wall and floor panel the bottom edge of the wall panel has a built i slotted edge channels extending the full width of the panel with the corner top edge of the floor panel having a built in slotted channel, having the strong dogs inserted into the slots in the floor panel 55 and having wall panel 40 is set down over the strong dogs.
 14. A process according to claim 13 further comprising; Having the strong dogs in a strip.
 15. A process according to claim 13 further comprising; Having the wall panel pushed into an engaged position.
 16. A process according to claim 13 further comprising; Having said panels being Structural Insulated Composite Panels.
 17. A process according to claim 1 further comprising; Connecting an exterior wall panel and an edge roof panels where the wall panel has a slotted edge channel extending the full width and full length of the panel, having the bottom edges of the roof panel 70 have built in slotted channels corresponding to the slots in the wall panels, inserting the strong dogs in the top of the wall panels, and having the edge roof panel connect to the strong dogs in the wall panel.
 18. A process according to claim 17 further comprising; Having the strong dogs in a strip.
 19. A process according to claim 17 further comprising; Having the edge roof panel pulled into an engaged position.
 20. A process according to claim 17 further comprising; Having said panels being Structural Insulated Composite Panels. 